Skip Heitzig is a native of southern California and experienced the volatile days of the counter-culture in the late '60's and early '70's. Though raised in a religious home, Skip saw religion as a dead-end street with no answers. As a young musician, he got caught up in drugs and was arrested for two felonies. By 18, he had ventured into the spirit world of astral projection and automatic writing, again finding no answers. By 1973, the Jesus Movement was in full swing, with many young people committing their lives to Jesus Christ. This also happened to be the same year Skip left his family's home and moved to the San Francisco Bay area to enroll in college and escape his Christian friends who were trying to "convert" him. But God had a different plan for Skip's life. One day, alone in his brother's apartment in San Jose, Skip was watching TV and became mesmerized by Billy Graham. The gospel message penetrated Skip's soul, and he knelt down and prayed to receive Christ.
Skip returned to southern California and studied under Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa until 1981. After marrying Lenya, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked in the medical field of radiology. In 1982, Skip began a home Bible study which eventually grew into Calvary of Albuquerque. In 1988 and 1989, Calvary of Albuquerque was considered the fastest growing church in America, according to a church survey by Dr. John Vaughn. Today, Calvary of Albuquerque ministers to over 14,000 adults and their children every weekend and has spun off over 40 churches internationally.
Skip, along with Lenya and their son, moved back to California in January 2004 to serve as senior pastor at Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano. Skip served in this capacity until July 2006, when he and Lenya returned to Albuquerque to once again serve as senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque.
Skip continues to reach out to many people across the nation and throughout the world through his multimedia ministry, which includes a nationwide half-hour radio program called The Connection. In addition to teaching God’s Word, Skip helps equip others for living according to God's principles through his writings. Recent books include Upon This Rock, When God Prays, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It (revised), and Jesus Up Close. He has also published a Lifestyle Series of booklets, such as A Biblical Response to Terror and Confronting Your Culture, which are especially applicable to our state of current affairs.
Skip earned his B.A. and M.A. from Trinity Seminary. He currently serves on several Boards of Directors including Samaritan's Purse.
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First Friday for September
The September 2008 First Friday Broadcast of the Connection features an interview with award-winning author, Lee Strobel. Lee, an atheist-turned-Christian, is the author of books such as "The Case for a Creator" and "The Case for Christmas," joins us with his latest book, "The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ."Find the biblical answers through Lee Strobel's historic and scientific research in "The Case for the Real Jesus" for only $20 during the month of September. Get your copy today by calling 1-800-922-1888.
